Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has stressed that public service reform remains fundamental to achieving good governance, sustainable national development and restoring public confidence in government institutions. He said transforming public institutions through innovation, merit, transparency and citizen-centred governance is essential for building an efficient and accountable public sector.
Key Highlights:
- Governor Inuwa Yahaya says public service reform is key to good governance and national development.
- Calls for innovation, transparency and merit-based administration across public institutions.
- Highlights Gombe State’s reforms in digital governance, payroll integrity and civil service development.
- Advocates stronger collaboration among governments and development partners to modernise governance.
- Urges continued investment in capacity building and technology-driven public administration.
Governor Yahaya made the remarks while chairing the 2026 Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series and Awards in Abuja to commemorate the United Nations Public Service Day. He was represented at the event by the Gombe State Head of Civil Service, Professor Mu’azu Shehu.
Addressing senior government officials, policy experts, development partners and civil servants from across Nigeria, the governor said the quality of governance is determined largely by the strength, professionalism and responsiveness of public institutions.
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According to him, modern governance requires a public service that is efficient, accountable, innovative, inclusive and capable of responding to the evolving needs of citizens.
Speaking on the theme, “Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation, and Inclusion,” Governor Yahaya described the lecture as timely, noting that governments at all levels are working to strengthen institutions and improve service delivery.
He commended the organisers for providing a platform that promotes policy dialogue, recognises excellence and encourages the exchange of ideas aimed at improving public administration in Nigeria.
Gombe’s Public Service Reforms
Drawing from Gombe State’s experience, Governor Yahaya highlighted several reforms implemented by his administration to reposition the civil service as a driver of sustainable development.
He identified the establishment of the Gombe State Bureau of Public Service Reforms as a major institutional achievement, describing it as the coordinating hub for policy innovation, performance management and reform implementation across ministries, departments and agencies.
The governor said his administration has strengthened meritocracy by introducing transparent and performance-based promotion systems that reward competence, integrity and professionalism.
He also noted that biometric staff verification and electronic attendance systems have improved payroll integrity, eliminated ghost workers and strengthened accountability in public resource management.
According to him, technology has become a key driver of governance in the state through the digitisation of treasury operations, automation of procurement processes and the deployment of the Go-Health digital platform, which has improved healthcare access for civil servants.
Capacity Building and Workers’ Welfare
Governor Yahaya reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare, citing the provision of comprehensive health insurance coverage for civil servants as part of efforts to enhance productivity and reduce healthcare costs.
He also highlighted the construction of a modern state secretariat complex, saying the project would consolidate government offices, reduce expenditure on rented facilities and improve coordination among ministries.
The governor added that continuous training and retraining programmes remain central to equipping civil servants with the skills required to meet emerging governance and technological challenges.
He disclosed that the state plans to deepen its reform agenda through a comprehensive skills-gap assessment, merit-based recruitment of specialised professionals and the introduction of a structured training policy to institutionalise continuous capacity building.
Governor Yahaya maintained that while Gombe State’s achievements demonstrate what purposeful leadership can accomplish, public service reform should become a national priority to strengthen institutions, drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.
He called on state governments, federal institutions and development partners to strengthen collaboration, share successful reform models and scale innovative solutions that will modernise governance across the country.
